Gamecocks deliver series-opening win at Florida

GAINSVILLE, F.L. (South Carolina Athletics) – The University of South Carolina baseball team used six strong innings from Eli Jones and 13 hits to defeat No. 24 Florida, 10-3, Friday night (April 12) at Condron Family Ballpark.

Jones struck out six in six innings, allowing five hits and just one run with two walks. Chris Veach picked up his second save of the year, not allowing a hit in the final two frames.

Cole Messina, who hit leadoff, led the Gamecock offense with three hits, while Parker Noland, Talmadge LeCroy, Gavin Casas and Will Tippett had two hits apiece.

Noland opened the scoring with a solo home run in the first. The Gators answered with a run in the third but Carolina had home runs from LeCroy and Tippett to take a 3-1 advantage. Carolina scored two in the seventh on a Messina RBI single and bases-loaded walk to Kennedy Jones.

The Gamecocks scored five runs in the top of the ninth with the big hit a two-run Jones single up the middle.

POSTGAME NOTES

• Gavin Casas had his first triple of 2024 in his pair of hits.
• Carolina has won three games in a row, all against ranked opponents.
• Carolina stole four bases on the night.
• Jones pitched six innings for the fifth time this season.

UP NEXTCarolina and Florida will play game two of the series on Saturday afternoon (April 13) at 4 p.m. The game will be streamed on SEC Network Plus.

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